Infant&#39;s shoe



April 24, 1951 W. KAUT, JR., ETAL INFANTS SHOE Filed Feb. 11, 1949 FIG. 2.

FIG.

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LOUIS F'. LAUMAN FRANK \LyER' JR. BYQ Z 7 v ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24 1951 HINFANTS SHOE William Kant, J r., Louis F. Lauman, and Frank J. Winter, Jr., Dixon, Mo.

Application February 11, 1949, Serial No. 75,832

. 1 Claim. 1 This invention relates generally to shoes and particularly to infants shoes.

In the construction of infants shoes, as heretofore practiced, it has been customary to build according to what is known as the high-quarter style or according to the low-quarter style.

There are well recognized benefits of the highquarter style in that protection is afforded for the ankle bone, but it has been believed by some authorities that it was more helpful and beneficial to the infant during the formative stages of the feet that they be shod with low-quarter shoes because of the'tendency of mothers to lace the high-quarter shoes as tightly as possible in order. to provide the infant with the greatest degree of support and protection for the ankle. The tight lacing of such high-quarter shoes, however, reduces the circulation in the foot and in many cases is more detrimental than beneficial.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide an infants shoe which pro- Vides all the beneficial support and protection section of the shoe shown in Figure 1 before being fitted with a vamp; and

Figure 4 is a pattern outline for the individual quarter sections comprising the quarter shown in Figure 3. a

In accordance with the present invention, generally stated, the quarter sections of a shoe upper are cut so as to embrace the ankle bone and have their lace stays, including at least one fastening point, extending above the elevation of the ankle bone area. From the top of the lace stay, however,.the quarters are cut so as to extend downwardly and rearwardly, making an angle of approximately 45 with the tread surface of the shoe, and terminating rearwardly in a back line, which is located below the elevation of the ankle bone area. With a shoe constructed in general as just described, protection and support are afiorded for the ankle when the shoe is laced taut, but in view of the rearward, downward inclination of the top line, the shoe is free of zones Of tension extending substantially horizontally about the ankle area. Consequently, there is no danger of constricting the ankle area to an extent such as to impair circulation. On the contrary, the uppermost zone of tension, which extends from the uppermost fastening point to the back line of the shoe, preferably passes through the ankle area and thus provides the desirable support for that region. The tension lines, exerted upon pulling the lacings taut, extend throughout the shoe either vertically or at substantial angles with the tread surface, and only in the area which is rigidified by the counter (which embraces the fleshy part of the heel) is there substantial likelihood of tension zones approaching parallel with the tread surface.

Referring now to the drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the shoe comprises an upper having a forepart I and a quarter 2. In the embodiment shown, the quarter 2 consists of two quarter sections 3 and 4, each of which is initially out according to pattern shown in Figure 4. The quarter sections define a fastening stay 5 having a plurality of fastening points, at least two of which 6 and 'I are disposed above the elevation of the back line 8 defined by the quarter. Between the back line 8 and the lace stay 5, the quarter is cut to define a top line 9 which, as above indicated, in the completed shoe makes an angle of approximately 45 with the tread surface of the shoe when viewed in side elevation. Moreover, it is preferable to cut the top line and position the lacing points 6 and I so that the mutual axis of the latter, indicated by the line I0, makes substantially a right angle with the top line 9.

The quarter sections 3 and 4 are cut so as to embrace the ankle bone area of the foot on which the shoe is to be worn, said ankle bone area being indicated at I I, and it will be observed that the back line 8 lies below, while at least one fastening point I lies above, the ankle bone area II.

The two quarter sections 3 and 4 are connected together in the usual manner by a back stay I2, which in the embodiment shown extends upwardly above the back line 8 to provide a pulltab I3. The assembled quarter sections are provided with a skeleton lining Id extending about all margins thereof except those which constitute the lasting allowance, and finally a counterpocket I5 is connected by means of stitch-lines I6 3 so that the counter-pocket, below and between the stitch-lines I6, is left unconnected with the assembled quarter sections 3 and 4.

The'usual counter I1 is inserted between the counter-pocket l5 and the assembled quarter sections 3 and 4. Thereupon the shoe is lasted in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description those skilled in the art will readily understand that the particular angular arrangement of the top line of the shoe relative to the tread surface and to the axis of the uppermost fastening points eliminates the possibility of severe constriction of the ankle above the ankle bone, yet provides a strong and rugged support and protection for the; ankle. joint.-

and the ankle bone. The shoe of thexpresent invention may be laced as taut as is, consistent with the comfort of the wearer without in any wise interfering with the circulatory functions of freedom of movement of the foot or ankle.

While the particular angularity of thetop line relative to the tread surface and to the axis ,of the fastening points, as herein described and but that the principles are applicable not only to infants shoes, but to adults shoes, and that many other variations and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: r

In an orthopedic childs shoe having a sole providing a tread surface, and an upper including a quarter defining a back line and a closure opening at the entry therein, stays at the edges of the closure opening, the top line of said upper 1 extending between the back and the top of said stays at' an angle of approximately with the ,tread-surface,,and said back being positioned below the area of said quarter which embraces the ankle bone of a foot within the shoe.

WILLIAM KAUT, JR.

'LOUIS F. LAUMAN.

FRANK J. WINTER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are-of record in the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,573,299 Bullock 'Feb. 16, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 721,138 France Dec. 12, 1931 790,312

France Sept. 2, 1935 

